16 week old frightened

[CharlieB93]

So my little girl was born in the middle of lockdown, we isolated for 8/10 weeks after she was born, only being held and touched by me and her father. In the past 6 weeks we’ve introduced her to grandparents, aunties etc and she is terrified ☹️ She sobs anytime anyone comes near her and I find it really hard to calm her down. For instance I saw my grandma waiting at the bus stop so I stopped to speak to her, and my little girl started sobbing when my grandma spoke to her.
I’m devastated as everyone has been looking forward to meeting her and I feel like I’ve caused this, I’ve made her this way. I wish I hadn’t followed guidelines and we’d just let our family hold her and go on as normal.
Is anyone else experiencing this? Is there anything I can do?

Hopeful bump

Don’t blame yourself at all. Stranger anxiety is very normal in babies. From birth until about 16 weeks my DS cried hysterically going to his dad or anyone who isn’t me. He’ll now grudgingly accept his dad but still doesn’t like anyone else. Your little girl is biologically programmed to want to stay close to you for survival and won’t really be interested in anyone else for a while yet.

Don’t get stressed about it, because she’ll sense that you’re uneasy and it’ll become a self fulfilling prophecy. Just take it easy, maybe point out people that are walking past in the park all bright and breezy and just take it at her pace. You haven’t done anything wrong and she’ll be fine.